Catholic education has a long and rich history in Taylor. In 1896, Dominican sisters founded St. Mary’s School. While elementary education has continued for over 120 years, the school graduated its last high school class in 1966. This fall, 54 years later, Catholic high school education returns to the community with the reopening of the parish-based St. Mary’s Catholic High School.
“This is a blessing for our parish, the city of Taylor, surrounding areas and beyond,” said Father Keith Koehl, pastor of St. Mary Parish.
St. Mary’s Catholic High School will be the only Catholic secondary school in the area, and it will continue the classical model of education that was implemented two years ago in the elementary school.
Those who have worked toward this goal admit that opening a high school is a bold move during these uncertain times. Yet, they have persevered in prayer, research and action, and have relied on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The growth of the elementary school, the lack of Catholic secondary education in the area, the success of the classical curriculum in the younger grades and requests from parents encouraged the parish to move forward.
St. Mary’s Catholic School’s enrollment has grown significantly in the last three years, from 115 to 195 students. Principal Heidi Altman said introducing a classical curriculum infused the school with a sense of excellence and has energized teachers, parents and students. As a result, parents want this type of Catholic education to continue for their children as they enter their high school years.
Although the elementary school serves students from diverse communities in 24 ZIP codes, no Catholic high school was located close enough for families to easily transfer their older children. In addition, the large area served by the school made it difficult for many families to have children in school in Taylor and different locations at the same time. Families now have the option of continuing Catholic education in Taylor.
St. Mary’s Catholic High School will begin with ninth and 10th grades in the fall, with plans to add 11th grade next year and 12th grade the following year.
New families may be drawn to the high school’s classical liberal arts curriculum, which is challenging and helps students understand the world in an integrated way, and to value truth, beauty and wisdom as gifts from God, Altman said.
“The classical model produces lifelong critical thinkers and learners who seek excellence in all facets of life, fully armed to meet the modern challenges of our secular culture and to determine truth from falsehood,” she said. “They will have a personal relationship with Christ, following him as they make decisions about their future.”
To implement this model, St. Mary’s Catholic High School is affiliated with the Chesterton Schools Network, an organization of approximately 30 schools in the U.S., Europe and Canada. This network evolved from an academy whose mission was to offer “classical, integrated high school education that was faithful to the Catholic Church and affordable for families of average means.” The school, and later the network, were named after G. K. Chesterton, who was a critical thinker, writer, philosopher and defender of the Catholic faith.
This partnership offers a content-rich curriculum, as well as advanced teacher training and access to “master” teachers. In addition, the network provides seminars and materials for parents so they can have informed discussions with their children about what they are learning and experiencing in school.
The high school curriculum is rigorous and prepares graduates for college, business or other endeavors. In addition to excellence in the humanities, the critical thinking skills promoted by a classical education are also valuable for the study of math and science. Courses in those disciplines will be challenging, with college advanced placement credit offered.
“Classical education methods specifically engage students based on their natural, God-given learning processes, at their natural stages of development,” Altman said.
The success of this process has been proven throughout time and with students in the lower grades of St. Mary’s School, she said. Because this model seeks to develop the whole person: the mind, body, heart and soul, there are a range of extracurricular activities, from sports to fine arts.
High school students will attend Mass every day and have many opportunities to live their faith in the school environment and within the greater community.
Enrollment is open for St. Mary’s Catholic High School as well as St. Mary’s Catholic School, for younger grades. For more information, contact Kim Bohac, director of admissions, at (512) 352-2313 or [email protected]. Visit www.stmarystaylor.org for more information.